Donald F. Knutson

My entire career has been focused on aerospace/aviation. I’ve been an airplane and helicopter A&P Mechanic since 1981, a pilot since 1984, a mechanical engineer since 1990, and have investigated hundreds of aircraft accidents/crashes domestically and internationally since 1991. I'm very adept with reconstructing failure events, troubleshooting systems, identifying potential hazards, and developing safer and more efficient systems. I worked as an engineer with Beechcraft and Boeing, and assisted the FAA, NTSB, and foreign government agencies involving a multitude of air safety issues. I worked as a Director of Aviation for an established engineering and accident investigation firm, and have successfully maintained my own air safety and accident investigation consulting business since 2002. I provide investigation training to companies, universities, and professional organizations. I also fly and maintain my RV-6A experimental airplane.

Areas of Expertise:

• Detailed and complex accident/wreckage reconstruction (airplane and helicopter)
• Aircraft flight path analysis and performance
• Airframe and powerplant (piston and turbine) systems/component failure analysis
• Systems/component ground and flight testing
• Federal regulations, airworthiness standards, and certification requirements
• Aircraft maintenance issues
• In-flight breakups and mid-air collisions
• Crashworthiness and survivability
• In-flight and post-impact fires
• Explosion analysis
• Aircraft support vehicles and servicing equipment accidents
• Human factors involving interaction with the machine and environment

Biography:

AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING EMPLOYMENT:

Knutson Aviation Services, LLC, Wichita, Kansas President / Owner – 2002 to Present

Knutson Aviation Services is a consulting company that specializes in accident/incident investigations on both airplanes and helicopters. In addition to the above-noted areas of expertise, services include organizational safety evaluations, research projects and educational services.

The Boeing Company, Wichita, Kansas Flight Test Engineer – 2002 to 2004

Assigned to the KC-767 Military Tanker program. Evaluated fuel system design and safety, including the tanker's fly-by-wire telescoping boom and remote operator aerial refueling capabilities.

Packer Engineering, Inc., Naperville, Illinois Director of Aviation – 1999 to 2001

Packer Engineering was a nationally recognized engineering and accident investigation firm. Developed and managed the aviation business and provided accident investigation consultation. Also, worked as a part-time adjunct consultant from 2001 to 2007. 

Beech Aircraft Company, Wichita, Kansas Senior Engineer / Air Safety Investigator – 1990 to 1999

Conducted comprehensive field investigations on domestic and foreign accidents, which involved various models of civilian and military aircraft (including target drones). Worked with numerous engineering disciplines to analyze and resolve system/component issues. Performed airframe and powerplant (turbine and piston) system inspections, wreckage reconstruction, metallurgical examinations, human factors analysis, and crashworthiness/survivability analysis. Analyzed flight performance and evaluated structural dynamics of in-flight breakups and vibrations/flutter. Engineering liaison between Beech and the NTSB, FAA and foreign government investigators. Served as a Designated NTSB Representative for several international accidents and helped train new air safety investigators during field investigations. Prepared factual and analytical reports and presentations. Involved with Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE) project evaluating improved crashworthiness design concepts. Also, worked as an Engineer in the Mechanical Systems Test group responsible for design development tests, including evaluation of the U.S. Air Force T-1A single-point refueling system and flight control integrity tests, and the Starship brake deicing tests. Designed, supervised, and supported construction and instrumentation of test articles.

Boeing of Louisiana, Lake Charles, Louisiana Liaison Engineer – 1989

Responsible for troubleshooting maintenance problems and making modification recommendations for KC-135 military aircraft.

AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE EMPLOYMENT:

A&M Aviation, Plainfield, Illinois
 Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic - 1986 to 1989

Performed airframe and powerplant maintenance on a wide variety of single engine and multi- engine general aviation aircraft. Mostly maintained Cessna, Piper, and Grumman airplanes.

Industrial Helicopters, Inc., Scott, Louisiana Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic – 1985 to 1986

Performed airframe and powerplant maintenance on Bell 206 Series helicopters.

Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. (PHI) - Lafayette, Louisiana Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic – 1981 to 1985

Performed airframe and powerplant maintenance on Bell, Bolkow and Aerospatiale helicopters. Worked at overhaul, field base and offshore facilities.

TEACHING/PROMOTING AIR SAFETY:

Wichita State University Aerospace Engineering Program: Developed and instructed aircraft accident investigation (AAI) courses for undergraduates and graduates (2003 and 2005).

National Institute of Aviation Research (NIAR): Assisted with aging aircraft research regarding issues with Cessna 402 series and Boeing B-52 airplanes (2005), and provide analysis on crash/impact dynamics and wreckage reconstruction issues.

Boeing, Wichita Kansas: Through collaboration with Wichita State University, developed both basic and advanced AAI courses to train the engineers who support the U.S. Air Force mishaps (2004, 2005, and 2009). 

Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois: Presented accident and wreckage reconstruction case studies for forensics engineering course (2005).

Lewis University Aviation Department, Romeoville, Illinois: Developed and instructed courses for AAI and aviation-related human factors for undergraduates, graduates, and continuing education.

Wichita Area Technical College: Developed an on-line accident investigation course and assisted with establishing an Associate’s degree program in Aviation Engineering Technology (2008).

Professional Aircraft Maintenance Association (PAMA): Provided numerous presentations regarding aviation safety and AAI, including FAA Inspection Authorization Seminars.

International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI): Developed and conducted a tutorial on ways to improve existing investigative processes (2011).

AIG Aerospace and USAIG: Provided an AAI seminar (qualified for continuing educational credits) to staff of both aviation insurance companies (2013).

SAE (Aerospace) International: Instructor and developer of course designed to help engineers understand and support AAI and reconstruction. .

National Test Pilot School (Mojave, CA): Co-developed a Flight Test Performance and Flight Qualities course, which is specifically tailored for aircraft accident investigators complying with ICAO standards for flight testing and evaluating aircraft performance in support of aviation accident investigations (2017-2018)

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Technical Counselor: Advise builders on constructing a safe, airworthy aircraft for final FAA inspection.

Young Eagles Program through EAA Chapter 1344: Give children free airplane rides to promote aviation and teach the basics of flight.

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM): Serve on a technical committee involving standards development of general aviation aircraft and aircraft systems.

NIAR: Developed and taught AAI training program for research engineers (2022).

Cranfield University (UK): Developed and taught training modules on Analyzing and Validating “Lessons Learned,” and Evaluating the Effectiveness of Safety Management Systems (2022).

Capitol Technology University: Developed and teach Applied Aircraft Accident Investigation and Failure Analysis online course (presently).

Education

• M.S. in Airworthiness Engineering with concentration on Systems Engineering 2020-2022, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 1985-1990, University of Southwestern Louisiana
• Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance Technology 1985-1990, Lewis University

Professional Achievements

• ISASI
• ASTM
• EAA
•  American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
• National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)
• International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/TRAINING:

• Bell and Aerospatiale Helicopter Maintenance Training (at PHI)
• NTSB Aviation Accident Investigation, U.S. Department of Transportation
•  Theory of Elasticity for Aircraft Structures, Aerospace Engineering (AE), Wichita State University (WSU)
• Mechanics of Laminated Composites, AE, WSU
• Finite Element Analysis, AE, WSU
• Vibration Analysis, AE, WSU
• MS Directed Project – Accident Investigation Course Development, AE, WSU
• Numerous seminars regarding aircraft accident investigation techniques through ISASI and General Aviation Air Safety Investigators (GASI)
•  Numerous air safety seminars and online training regarding aeronautical decision making and loss of control (organized by FAA, AOPA, APS, and NBAA)
• AGATE (consortium between NASA, FAA, Beechcraft and NIAR) seminars involving improved crashworthiness design concepts
• Familiarization training on Lycoming and Continental piston engines
• Familiarization training on Hartzell and McCauley propellers
• Familiarization training on Pratt & Whitney turbine engines
• TapRoot - Root Cause Analysis
• Aviation Physiology and Crash Survival Courses, FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
• Airplane Design, Aerodynamics, and Performance Course, University of Kansas
• Robinson Helicopter Pilot Safety Training Course
• Assisted with building and test flying a Quicksilver Sport 2S and CGS Hawk Arrow II
•  Designed and built a water/ice rescue hovercraft
• FAA Inspection Authorization Seminars
• NAFI Fire, Arson & Explosion Investigation course
• Southern California Safety Institute (SCSI) Fire and Explosion Investigation
• Flight Test and Flying Qualities for ICAO Accident Investigations, National Test Pilot School

Volunteer/Service Experience

• FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificates
• FAA Private Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land and Rotorcraft-Helicopter Ratings
• NAFI Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator
• FAA Designated Engineering Representative consultant (DER-T) eligibility for Safety
• Analysis functions in authorized areas involving Mechanical Systems, Structural, and Powerplant Installations

Book Publication 

• Basic Science and Art of Aircraft Wreckage Reconstruction, published by SAE International (2019), IBSN: 978-0-7680-9957-7. Second edition of this book scheduled to be released October 2024.